BURNLEY today agreed to sell star striker Ade Akinbiyi to Sheffield United for a club record £1.75m.

Akinbiyi was dramatically pulled out of the Clarets' winter training trip at the 11th hour after the two Championship clubs struck the seven-figure deal, which smashes the outgoing transfer record at Turf Moor for the THIRD time in a year.

Instead, he was today travelling over the Pennines to talk to the promotion-chasing Blades, who finally look to have landed their number one target after a frantic day of telephone negotiations.

A third bid was rejected by Burnley yesterday afternoon, before United returned with a fourth, improved offer late into the night.

Chairman Barry Kilby confirmed: "We have agreed a fee with Sheffield United for Ade and it is now up to him to discuss terms with them.

"Not only is it good business, but it gives us money to circulate back for manager Steve Cotterill to rebuild the team."

The fee, which almost trebles the £600,000 Burnley splashed out for the former Stoke City ace 11 months ago, would represent a whopping £1.15million profit for a striker whose career has been resurrected under Steve Cotterill.

Eighteen goals in 43 appearances, including 14 this season, quickly turned Akinbiyi into a cult hero at Turf Moor. And despite being suspended, he was given a rapturous reception last weekend in what looks to have been his last appearance - receiving the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award for November after almost single-handedly shooting the Clarets into play-off contention.

However, the timing of his departure could hardly be worse for boss Cotterill, who now faces a desperate dash to replace his leading goalscorer before the transfer window slams shut until the summer.

All permanent deals must be finalised by midnight on January 31, after which only emergency loan deals are possible.

And as the deadline grows ever closer, so the options diminish for the cash-strapped Burnley boss, who has now earned the club around £6m in 18 months from outgoing transfers and thrilling cup runs.

A year ago, Burnley's outgoing transfer record was smashed twice in a matter of weeks, with Robbie Blake making the £1.25m switch to Birmingham and then Richard Chaplow following to West Bromwich Albion on deadline day for £1.5m.

The Turf Moor coffers were also filled by last season's lucrative FA Cup and Carling Cup clashes with Premiership sides Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers, which brought in well over £1m.